Scientists discover flash of light when new life is formed at the moment a sperm meets an egg

Sparks really do fly: Scientists discover flash of light when new life is formed at the moment a sperm meets an egg

• This is the first time zinc sparks have been captured in a human egg
  
• The size of the sparks is a direct measure of the quality of an egg
  
• Its discovery has potential to help doctors choose the best eggs during IVF
  

By Victoria Woollaston for MailOnline
Published: 13:17 GMT, 26 April 2016 | Updated: 13:53 GMT, 26 April 2016






Scientists activated the egg by injecting a sperm enzyme into it to trigger calcium that increases within the egg and zinc to be released from the egg.
The eggs in the study were not fertilised with actual sperm because that is not permitted in human research under federal law.


'It was remarkable,' Woodruff said. 'We discovered the zinc spark just five years ago in the mouse, and to see the zinc radiate out in a burst from each human egg was breathtaking.


'All of biology starts at the time of fertilization, yet we know next to nothing about the events that occur in the human. This discovery required a unique partnership between biologists and chemists and non-federal dollars to support the research,' she said. 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3559563/Sparks-really-fly-new-life-formed-Images-reveal-fireworks-occur-moment-sperm-meets-egg.html